Exhaust fan damper operating auxiliary



Sept. 8, 1942. v R. J.'.sEA1'oR EXHAUST FAN DAMPER OPERATING AUXILIARYFiled Jan. 20, 1942 2 SheetsSheet 1 V 5 VII/II III A 6 U 6 7 I) 7, 9 lI! JU Sept. 1 R. .I. SEATOR I 2,295,239

EXHAUST FAN DAMPER OPERATING AUXILIARY Filed Jan. 20, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 2 0 V 27 za a 2/ 33 a 0 -25 I Q 25 A -1- I 2 l1 .6 a: n 95/ i: 2 ii 55 am aw);

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 EXHAUST FAN DAMPER OPERATING AUXILIARY Robert J.Seator, Battle Creek, Mich, assignor to United States Register 00.,Battle Creek, Mich.

Application January 20, 1942, Serial No. 427,515

(Cl. 9-81l6) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism which may be termed for purposes ofexplanation and description an exhaust fan damper operating auxiliary.

The object of the invention is to produce an improved specialconstruction for back draft dampers or for register louvers usinggalvanized iron instead of aluminum of which those elements are usuallymade and to render the heavier louvers or vanes more efiicientlyoperable than is customarily the result in present constructions of likecharacter with which this applicant is acquainted. As may be stated, theprimary object of this invention is to overcome the added weight of theiron louvers over aluminum in such a way that the flow of air will causethe louvers to open wide, also when the air is shut off a reverse actiontakes place causing the louvers or vanes to close tightly and to remainin that position until the fan is again started. The fan and operatingdevices used in connection with this invention form no feature ofnovelty or part of the invention and are not shown in the drawings ofthis application. Heretofore, the dampers employed for like purposeshave been made of aluminum for the reason of lightness so that the airflow could readily actuate them. In substituting galvanized iron foraluminum some other force has to be added to assist the air in openingthe louvers, and that is the result this invention attains.

Of the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional viewof the upper portion of a register frame showing the construction of theoperating devices and the louvers or vanes in their closed positions.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view similar to Fig.

1 showing the vanes in their raised positions.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the spring shaft support removed, showing thespring upon the shaft, the connections of the spring with the shaft andcrank arm, and the locking screw.

Fig. 4 is a view from below of the parts shown in Fig. 3 showing theshaft partly turned and the connection of the spring therewith.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3showing the crank arm and spring connection therewith, and the pivotallink on the crank arm. The section is taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 represents a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and showsthe ratchet wheel engaged with the locking screw and pawl.

Throughout the drawings and description the same number is used to referto the same part.

angle with the vanes intothe interior of the frame. A vertical operatingbar i! has suitable pivotal connections i8, l9, 2i) and 2| with thebranch pieces of the vanes. The operating bar El moves up and down andits movement is imparted by the connecting link 2'2 provided with apivotal attachment 23 to the bar and a like connection 24 to the crankarm 25. The crank arm is loosely carried by the spring shaft 223, and itwill be noted in Fig. 3 that the end of the spring shaft projects beyondthe side of the inner upper addition 2, which is the bearing support forthe spring shaft 26. The projecting end 21 of the shaft 26 is squaredfor the engagement with a key. l i I In Fig. 3 it will be observed thatthe spring 28 has one end connected with'the pin 29 on the crank arm 25,and that the spring encircles the shaft and has its other end connectedwith a pin 30 which passes through the shaft.

As best shown in Fig. 6 the squared end 21 of the shaft carries on theinside of upper addition 2 a toothed wheel 3|, and the wheel may belocked in position by the removable screw 32 and by the pawl 33. Anysuitable ratchet devices may be employed in place of the lock screw andpawl.

In the operation, the intention is to accurately balance the weights ofthe vanes by means of the adjusted. tension of the spring, so that thevanes will close fully as shown in Fig. 1, and open as shown in Fig. 2as far as desired in view of the predetermined force of the air currentpassing,

through. When the adjustment is made for any; particular condition thetension of the spring is. controlled accordingly by taking out the lock.

as adequate for the purposes intended as can be devised.

Having now described the invention, I claim:

1. In damper and vane operating mechanism, a frame, a vane pivotallysupported by the frame, the vane having attached thereto an armextending into the frame, the end of said arm in the frame havingpivotally connected therewith a reciprocating operating bar, a, crankarm in the frame having one end movably and pivotally connected withsaid operating bar, a spring shaft rotatively carried by the frame, saidcrank arm being loosely borne by the said shaft, a spring encircling theshaft and having one end connected with the shaft and one end connectedwith said crank arm, and means for adjustably securing the shaft inrotated positions whereby the tension of the spring applied to the shaftand crank arm may be controlled.

2. In damper and vane operating mechanism, a frame, a vane pivotallysupported by the frame, the vane having attached thereto an armextending into the frame, the end of said arm in the frame havingpivotally connected therewith a rep o a ins rat n bar, a c a ar in theframe having one end movably and pivotally connected with said operatingbar, a spring shaft rotatively carried by the frame, said crank armbeing loosely borne by the said shaft, a spring encircling the shaft andhaving one end connected with the shaft and one end connected with saidcrank arm, a wheel with radiating teeth secured on the shaft, and aremovable locking screw in the frame and arranged to engage the teeth ofsaid wheel whereby the said shaft may be secured in rotated positionsand the tension of said spring applied to the shaft and crank armcontrolled.

3. In combination, a pivoted vane, a crank arm provided with aconnection with the vane Whereby the movement of the end of the crankarm actuates the vane, a suitably supported revoluble sprin shaft, saidcrank arm being loosely carried by the shaft, a coil spring on theshaft, said spring having one end connected with the shaft and one endconnected with said crank arm, a member secured upon and rotating withthe shaft, and a locking screw carried by the said shaft support andarranged to bear upon the said member and hold the shaft in rotatedpositions whereby the tension of the spring applied to said shaft andcrank arm is controlled.

4. In combination, a pivoted vane, a crank arm provided with aconnection with the vane whereby the movement of the end of the crankarm actuates the vane, a suitably supported revoluble spring shaft, saidcrank arm being loosely carried by the shaft, a coil spring on theshaft, said spring having one end connected with the shaft and one endconnected with said crank arm, a member secured upon and rotating withthe shaft and having radiating projections, and a locking screw and pawlcarried by the shaft support and arranged to engage the projections ofsaid memher and hold the shaft in rotated positions whereby the tensionof the spring applied to said shaft and crank arm is controlled.

ROBERT J. SEATOR.

